Contents



**Treatment on Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients 137** Li Zhang and Yanyan Pan

### Chapter 8 **Targeted Photodynamic Therapy for Improved Lung Cancer Treatment 153**

Anine Crous and Heidi Abrahamse

### Chapter 9 **Chemoresistance of Lung Cancer Cells: 2D and 3D In Vitro Models for Anticancer Drug Screening 173** Vivek Kaushik, Juan Sebastian Yakisich, Yogesh Kulkarni, Neelam Azad and Anand Krishnan V. Iyer

Preface

able to guarantee a cure are the goal.

Over the last 100 years, lung cancer has been on the rise in the field of oncology, due to the challenges involved both in its causal factors and in diagnosis and treatment. In the distant past it was almost unreported and considered a very rare manifestation, but currently it steals the scene in the number of new cases recorded annually. In an inquiring oncology world scenario, where practical research efforts increasingly aim to improve human health, quality of life, and lifestyle, early and precise diagnosis and effective treatment methods

Obviously, a deeper understanding of how lung cancer develops and its genomic hallmarks are the watershed in the clinical management of these cases. In this respect, the improve‐ ment in imaging techniques to detect lung cancer and also an understanding of the molecu‐ lar biology factors involved in lung tumor development and behavior offer a window of opportunities to research development in this area. Throughout the last few years there have been significant advances in imaging and surgical techniques, histological classifica‐ tion, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Also, although not applicable in clinical practice, lung cancer screening is being extensively studied and discussed, because early diagnosis is determinant to the progress of the disease. All these

This book presents to the reader selected examples of strategies on lung cancer diagnosis and treatment. With this aim the book is divided into two sections, where the first explores the diagnosis field and the second explores the treatment field. I hope that readers enjoy the book and that it contributes to improving the knowledge of and gives insights into better practices aimed at helping lung cancer patients reach a better quality of life and/or cure.

To the authors, I am very thankful for sharing their knowledge and contributions to this work, which can only be the result of constant and hard work. Also, I want to manifest my gratitude to the Intech editorial office for all their support, which made this book possible.

> **Dr. Alba Fabiola Costa Torres** Surgical Pathology Coordinator

> > Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Hermes Pardini Group/Diagnostika Laboratory

points compose the antitumor strategies in the battlefield against lung cancer.
